Yujing Zhang
*Except in cases of impeachment.
But what does that mean?
That he can't pardon himself to prevent impeachment?
That the President cannot pardon people that might be a witness in an impeachment case?
The theory that a president can pardon himself has never been tested.
Of course it's possible for them to pardon themselves, so long as its kept a secret and never actually tested.
I agree it would be a bad idea if we had incoming presidents constantly trying to jail the previous administration.
But what to do with someone like Zero?
Exposing his crimes and then publicizing that he secretly pardoned himself, Hillary and a bunch of others might be enough to get the public to simply banish him forever?
As an outgoing President, you might do it anyway just to give pause to any future President who might consider something. An insurance policy of sorts, hoping it wouldn't be tested.
I can't imagine the founders would have wanted a president to be able to blatantly violate laws and constitutional rights, and then pardon themselves to avoid any future culpability if exposed.
Yes, I think Trump didn't want to test the theory either.
And if Zero pardoned Hillary et al, he needed to give them some rope to commit more crimes.
Or, they've been looking for state and international crimes to bring instead.
I can't believe they still don't see the clear trap they are walking into.